Urban transport bike maker Tern certainly took the folding bike market by storm in recent years, and now the company looks to swoop in again, fittingly with its Swoop series of bicycles that will feature an ultra low-step frame design. The Swoop offers a top tube that is only 11-inches (28cm) off the ground, which makes it one of the lowest step bikes on the market.
The design offers the promise of a low center of gravity that enhances stability, especially for less experienced cyclists. It also offers an upright riding geometry because who really needs to “race” to the office or store, and this puts less stress on the arms and neck, while also aiding in the ability to see the road ahead. Continue reading Eurobike Preview: Tern Looks to Swoop In
Commuting to work requires a bit of planning ahead. A flat tire can’t be an excuse for being late. In addition to carrying a spare tube it is a good idea to have a pump – even if you’re using a CO2 inflation system. It is always good to have a backup plan in place. The problem with being prepared is that it means carrying way too much stuff. One easy solution is a seatpost pump.
We can only imagine what a commute to Timbuktu would be like, especially given that the city of just 55,000 people is located in a fairly remote section of the Sahara Desert in the West African nation of Mali. But commuting with Timbuk 2 – the durable bag and accessory maker – well that’s another story.
Consider the Sci’Con back to be your personal department of power and water while you’re on a ride. We’ve seen bags that haul water in a hydration pack and those that have a solar charger. Well, the Italian-made HydraCharge offers both.
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While pedal power can be used to get to work it can also be used to power up your devices. And the BikeCharge Dynamo from Hong Kong-based iBikeConsole uses the same pedal power that moves to the bike to juice the phone. It can be installed on a bike and it acts as a DC generator that is can power up devices via a USB port.
The loneliness of the long distance ride can be unbearable at times. While it is one thing to take in the scenery and enjoy the ride sometimes a little music will make that climb or just the miles on the road go by a little quicker. Headphones – especially in-ear headphones or earbuds – can block the outside world, and while that might seem a good idea in fact it really isn’t. 
Remember that scene in the film Goldfinger where James Bond switched golf balls with the villain on the course? Goldfinger cheated, but Bond switched the balls and in the end made his gold-loving nemesis look stupid. That’s because Goldfinger didn’t personalize his ball enough.
When out in the wild and off the grind you need to bring batteries or rely on a power generator. Fortunately if the sun is shining you have the best generator not under the sun, but in the guise of the sun itself. There are plenty of devices that can turn the rays into juice, and now Bushnell, which is known for quality optics, can help get power when off in the bush.
The minimal running shoe concept continues to take foot, and at the recent Outdoor Retail Show New Balance offered a look at its Minimus Hi-Rez, a running shoe that weighs just 4.3-ounces yet provides a reasonable amount of cushion and protection for the wearer.
Answering nature’s call when in the woods is one thing, but a more urgent need can be answering the phone call before it goes to voicemail. Many riders might want to leave the phone behind during their ride, but if you absolutely can’t miss a call and like to wear full-finger gloves to protect the digits there is the added problem that today’s touchscreen smartphones don’t respond well to said gloves.
Last month we noted in our Friday Made in America profile that RAMP Sports was looking to ramp up production of its various skis and other products by moving back to America. Now Mike Kilchenstein, CEO and founder of RAMP Sports, a 32 year industry veteran tells us why they made that decision. 
At yesterday’s 2012 Olympic Games Bradley Wiggins of the UK and Kristin Armstrong of the USA took rode to the gold in the men’s and women’s Olympic Time Trial in cycling. Their efforts likely turned heads, but so did the new helmet that was donned by the Swedish riders.